Flash memory device with slidable contact module

ABSTRACT

A flash memory device includes a circuit board and a contact module slidable with respect to the circuit board. The circuit board includes a plurality of first contacts each having a stiff first contact portion. The contact module includes a slider and a plurality of second contacts fixed to the slider. The slider is slidable with respect to the circuit board along a front-to-rear direction between a first position and a second position. The flash memory device is compatible to USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 receptacle connectors via the slidable contact module.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Divisional Application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/797,597, filed Jun. 9, 2010, and entitled “FLASH MEMORYDEVICE WITH SLIDABLE CONTACT MODULE”, which has the same assignee as thepresent invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a personal computer peripheral device,and more particularly to a flash memory device with a slidable contactmodule so that the flash memory device is compatible to mate with USB2.0 and USB 3.0 receptacle connectors.

2. Description of Related Art

With the fast development of the electrical domain, flash memory iscurrently used in variety of apparatus including digital cellular phone,digital camera, PC card, and digital setup box or inner controller fornotebook computer. A flash memory device such as a U-disk is widely usedas an intermedium for accessing data files from one device to another,or like a portable hard drive for installing data.

Usually, a flash memory device includes a circuit board with a pluralityof electronic components, such as driver chip, memory chip, oscillator,resistor, etc. for saving and loading data, functioning as a miniaturehard drive or wireless communication/transmission, a connector portconnected to one end of the circuit board, and a cover enclosing thecircuit board. In order to decrease profile of the flash memory device,a so-called Chip-On-Board (COB) IC packaging technology comes intobeing. Usually, a COB type circuit board includes an embedded chip and aplurality of golden fingers connected to the chip via a plurality ofbonding wires.

Anyhow, Universal Serial Bus (USB) has been widely used as a standardconnector port because of its self detection and hot plug etc. Nowadays,the most widely used USB ports measure up to USB specification version2.0 and such USB connectors are accordingly called USB 2.0 connectors asshown in FIG. 1A. However, with the fast development of the informationtechnologies, the current transmission speed of the USB 2.0 connectorscan't meet higher demands. As a result, USB 3.0 connectors withtransmission speed decuple faster than the USB 2.0 connectors come withthe tide of fashion.

As shown in FIG. 1A, a USB 2.0 receptacle connector A1 includes fourdeformable contact member A11 for mating with a corresponding USB 2.0plug to transmit USB 2.0 signals.

As shown in FIG. 1B, a USB 3.0 receptacle connector A2 includes fourfirst contact member A21 and five second contact member A22 located atthe front of the first contact member A21. The second contact member A22is recessed with respect to a mating surface A23. The first and thesecond contact members A21, A22 jointly abut against a corresponding USB3.0 plug to transmit USB 3.0 signals.

In the interim, USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 receptacle connectors are coexistedin the market, so there is a demand to provide USB flash memory deviceswhich are compatible to USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 receptacle connectors, andcan be provided for mating with the USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 receptacleconnectors, selectively.

Hence, an improved flash memory device with slidable contact module areneeded to solve the problem above.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a flash memory device including a circuitboard and a contact module slidable with respect to the circuit board.The circuit board includes a plurality of first contacts each comprisinga stiff first contact portion. The contact module includes a slider anda plurality of second contacts fixed to the slider. The slider isslidable with respect to the circuit board along a front-to-reardirection between a first position and a second position. Each secondcontact includes a second contact portion located behind the firstcontact portions along the front-to-rear direction. The second contactportions are arranged above the first contact portions. When the contactmodule is located at the first position, the first and the secondcontact portions are provided for jointly engaging with correspondingcontacts of a first receptacle connector. Besides, when the contactmodule is located at the second position, only the first contactportions are provided for engaging with corresponding contacts of asecond receptacle connector which is different from the first receptacleconnector. As a result, the flash memory device is compatible to thefirst and the second receptacle connectors via the slidable contactmodule.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technicaladvantages of the present invention in order that the detaileddescription of the invention that follows may be better understood.Additional features and advantages of the invention will be describedhereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are setforth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, togetherwith its objects and the advantages thereof, may be best understood byreference to the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify likeelements in the figures and in which:

FIG. 1A is a schematic view of a prior art USB 2.0 receptacle connector;

FIG. 1B is a schematic view of a prior art USB 3.0 receptacle connector;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a flash memory device with a contactmodule thereof located at an original first position, according to afirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a cover of the flash memory deviceshown in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C is an exploded view of the flash memory device shown in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a flash memory device with a contactmodule thereof located at a first position, according to a secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3B is another perspective view of the flash memory device shown inFIG. 3A under a condition that the contact module moves to a secondposition;

FIG. 3C is an exploded view of the flash memory device shown in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A is a schematic view of the flash memory device shown in FIG. 2Aunder a condition that the flash memory device is before insertion intothe USB 3.0 receptacle connector;

FIG. 4B is a schematic view of the flash memory device shown in FIG. 2Aunder a condition that the flash memory device is before insertion intothe USB 2.0 receptacle connector;

FIG. 5A is a schematic view of the flash memory device shown in FIG. 3Aunder a condition that the flash memory device is before insertion intothe USB 3.0 receptacle connector; and

FIG. 5B is a schematic view of the flash memory device shown in FIG. 3Bunder a condition that the flash memory device is before insertion intothe USB 2.0 receptacle connector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe theembodiments of the present invention in detail. In the followingdescription, the same drawing reference numerals are used for the sameelements in different drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, a flash memory device 100 which can beused for data transmission with a host device according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The flash memorydevice 100 is compatible to USB standard and can be alternativelyinserted into a USB 3.0 receptacle connector or a USB 2.0 receptacleconnector for transmitting USB 3.0 signals or USB 2.0 signals,respectively. According to a first embodiment of the present invention,the flash memory device 100 includes an outer shell 1, a Chip-On-Board(COB) type printed circuit board 2, a contact module 3 slidably mountedin the outer shell 1, and an elastic member 4 for abutting against thecontact module 3.

The outer shell 1 includes a base 11 and a cover 12 attached to the base11. The base 11 includes a main portion 111 and a rectangular contractedportion 112 extending forwardly from the main portion 111. Thecontracted portion 112 defines a rectangular recess 1121 on an upperwall 1122. The recess 1121 further extends backwardly to the mainportion 111 for receiving the printed circuit board 2. The main portion111 defines a pair of slots 1111 formed at lateral sides of the recess1121. As shown in FIG. 2B, the cover 12 includes a slit 121 formed on aninner side 122 thereof for abutting against the elastic member 4.

The printed circuit board 2 is rectangular and includes a plurality offirst contacts 21, a plurality of transfer contacts 22 and a chip (notshown) electrically connecting the first and the transfer contacts 21,22. Each first contact 21 includes a stiff first contact portion 211.Each transfer contact 22 includes an engaging portion 221 located behindthe first contact portions 211 along a front-to-rear direction.

The contact module 3 includes a slider 31 and a plurality of secondcontacts 32 fixed to the slider 31. The slider 31 includes a top wall311 and a pair of side walls 312 extending downwardly from the top wall311. The top wall 311 includes a mounting post 3111 extending backwardlybeyond the slider 31. Each second contact 32 includes a plate-shapedsecond contact portion 321 cantileveredly extending forwardly from afront end 310 of the slider 31. The slider 31 is mounted on the base 11with the side walls 312 moveable in the slots 1111. As best shown inFIGS. 2A and 4A, the second contact portions 321 are located behind thefirst contact portions 211 along the front-to-rear direction. Besides,the second contact portions 321 are located above the first contactportions 211.

The elastic member 4 according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention is a coiled spring. In assembly, one end 41 of the elasticmember 4 is fastened to the mounting post 3111 and the other end 42 ofthe elastic member 4 is fastened in the slit 121.

The slider 3 is slidable between an original first position (as shown inFIG. 2A) and a later second position behind the first position. As shownin FIG. 4A, when the flash memory device 100 is inserted into a USB 3.0receptacle connector A2, the second contact portions 321 can pass amating surface of the USB 3.0 receptacle connector A2 through aplurality of recessed conductive contacts A22. As a result, keeping theslider 31 at the first position, the flash memory device 100 can beinserted into the USB 3.0 receptacle connector A2. The second contactportions 321 touch the engaging portions 221 of the transfer contact 22along a vertical direction perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction.Under this condition, the first and the second contact portions 211, 321jointly abut against the contacts A21, A22 of the USB 3.0 receptacleconnector A2 for transmitting USB 3.0 signals. The plate-shaped secondcontact portions 321 can provide big contact area for mating with thecorresponding planar contacts A22.

However, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the flash memory device 100 isinserted into a USB 2.0 receptacle connector A1, the second contactportions 321 are stopped by the mating surface of the USB 2.0 receptacleconnector A1 because the second contact portions 321 extend above thefirst contact portions 211 and no recessed area is provided at themating surface of the USB 2.0 receptacle connector A1. With insertion ofthe flash memory device 100 further into the USB 2.0 receptacleconnector A1, the slider 31 is driven to move backwardly with respect tothe printed circuit board 2 till to the second position. The elasticmember 4 is compressed. Under this condition, the second contactportions 321 are hidden in the outer shell 1 and only the first contactportions 211 are exposed to abut against the contacts A11 fortransmitting USB 2.0 signals. When the flash memory device 100 isremoved from USB 2.0 receptacle connector A1, the compressed elasticmember 4 releases the restoring force to drive the slider 31 get back tothe first position.

Referring to FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C, a flash memory device 200 according toa second embodiment is disclosed. The flash memory device 200 is similarto the flash memory device 100 of the first embodiment. The maindifferences between them are that the elastic member 4 provided in thefirst embodiment is omitted in the second embodiment, and the slider 31further includes a slide switch button 33 exposed to the exterior forbeing pushed by the user along the front-to-rear direction so as todrive the slider 31 moveable between the first and the second positions.

Referring to FIG. 3C, the cover 12 defines a rectangular slot 5extending along the front-to-rear direction. The slot 5 extends throughthe cover 12 along the vertical direction. The slide switch button 33extends upwardly from the top wall 311 to be slidably received in theslot 5.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 5A, when the flash memory device 200 is adaptedto be inserted into the USB 3.0 receptacle connector A2, the slider 31is driven to the first position by pushing the slide switch button 33.Under this condition, the first and the second contact portions 211, 321are exposed to abut against the contacts A21, A22 of the USB 3.0receptacle connector A2 for transmitting USB 3.0 signals.

As shown in FIGS. 3B and 5B, when the flash memory device 200 is adaptedto be inserted into the USB 2.0 receptacle connector A1, the slider 31is backwardly driven to the second position. Under this condition, onlythe first contact portions 211 are exposed to abut against the contactsA11 of the USB 2.0 receptacle connector A1 for transmitting USB 2.0signals.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous,characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been setforth in the foregoing description, together with details of thestructure and function of the invention, the disclosed is illustrativeonly, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters ofnumber, shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles ofthe invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaningof the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

1. A flash memory device compatible to USB standard comprising: acircuit board having a plurality of first contacts, each first contactcomprising a stiff first contact portion; and a contact modulecomprising a slider and a plurality of second contacts fixed to theslider, the slider having a slide switch button extended upwardlytherefrom and being slidable with respect to the circuit board along afront-to-rear direction between a first position and a second position,each second contact comprising a second contact portion located behindthe first contact portions along the front-to-rear direction, and thesecond contact portions being arranged above the first contact portions,an outer shell having a rectangular slot for receiving the slide switchbutton; wherein when the contact module is located at the firstposition, the first and the second contact portions are jointly providedfor transmitting USB 3.0 signals; wherein when the contact module islocated at the second position, only the first contact portions areprovided for transmitting USB 2.0 signals; wherein the second contactportions are plate-shaped and cantileveredly extend from a front end ofthe slider; and wherein the outer shell comprises a base defining arecess to receive the circuit board, the slider being mounted on thebase.
 2. The flash memory device according to claim 1, wherein thecircuit board comprises a plurality of transfer contacts each comprisingan engaging portion located behind the first contact portions along thefront-to-rear direction; the engaging portions alternatively touchingthe second contact portions along a vertical direction perpendicular tothe front-to-rear direction.
 3. A flash memory device comprising: anouter shell defining therethrough a rectangular slot extending along afront-to-rear direction; a circuit board partly received in the outershell, the circuit board having a plurality of first contacts each ofwhich comprises a stiff first contact portion; and a contact modulecomprising a slider and a plurality of second contacts fixed to theslider, the slider comprising a slide switch button extended upwardlytherefrom and slidably received in the slot to drive the slider moveablewith respect to the circuit board along the front-to-rear directionbetween a first position and a second position, each second contactcomprising a second contact portion located behind the first contactportions along the front-to-rear direction, and the second contactportions being arranged above the first contact portions; wherein whenthe contact module is located at the first position, the first and thesecond contact portions are provided for engaging with correspondingcontacts of a first receptacle connector; wherein when the contactmodule is located at the second position, only the first contactportions are provided for engaging with corresponding contacts of asecond receptacle connector which is different from the first receptacleconnector; wherein the second contact portions are plate-shaped andextend forwardly beyond a front end of the slider; and wherein the outershell comprises a base defining a recess to receive the circuit board,the slider being mounted on the base.
 4. The flash memory deviceaccording to claim 3, wherein the circuit board comprises a plurality oftransfer contacts each comprising an engaging portion located behind thefirst contact portions along the front-to-rear direction; the engagingportions alternatively touching the second contact portions.
 5. Theflash memory device according to claim 4, wherein the second contactportions touch the engaging portions when the contact module is locatedat the first position; and wherein the second contact portions areseparated from the engaging portions when the contact module is locatedat the second position.
 6. The flash memory device according to claim 3,wherein the base defines a pair of slits on lateral sides thereof, theslider comprising a top wall to fix the second contacts and a pair ofside walls extending downwardly from the top wall to be slidablyreceived in the slits.
 7. The flash memory device according to claim 3,wherein the outer shell comprises a cover attached to the base, the slotbeing formed in the cover, the slide switch button being exposed to theexterior through the slot.
 8. A flash memory device, comprising: anouter shell defining therethrough a rectangular slot extending along afront-to-rear direction; a first module received in the outer shell andhaving a plurality of first contacts each of which comprises a stifffirst contact portion; and a second module received in the outer shelland comprising a slider and a plurality of second contacts fixed to theslider, the slider comprising a slide switch button extended upwardlytherefrom and slidably engaged in the slot to restrict the movement ofthe slider with respect to the first module along the front-to-reardirection between a first position and a second position, each secondcontact comprising a second contact portion arranged above the firstcontact portion of each of the plurality of first contacts; wherein atthe first position, the first contact portion and the second contactportion are provided to transmit a first type of signals; wherein at thesecond position, the first contact portion and the second contactportion are provided to transmit a second type of signals; wherein thesecond contact portions extend cantileveredly from a front end of theslider; and wherein the outer shell comprises a base defining a recessto receive the circuit board, the slider being mounted on the base. 9.The flash memory device according to claim 8, wherein the first type ofsignals is signal meeting USB 3.0 standard.
 10. The flash memory deviceaccording to claim 9, wherein the second type of signals is signalmeeting USB 2.0 standard.
 11. The flash memory device according to claim8, wherein the first module comprises a plurality of transfer contactseach comprising an engaging portion located behind the first contactportions along the first-to-rear direction.
 12. The flash memory deviceaccording to claim 11, wherein the engaging portions are alternativelyarranged to touch the second contact portions along a vertical directionperpendicular to the front-to-rear direction.
 13. The flash memorydevice according to claim 11, wherein the second contact portionselectrically connect the engaging portions, respectively, when thesecond module is located at the first portion, and wherein the secondcontact portions are electrically isolated from the engaging portionswhen the second module is located at the second position.
 14. The flashmemory device according to claim 8, wherein the first module is acircuit board.
 15. The flash memory device according to claim 8, whereinthe outer shell comprises a cover assembled to the base, the slot beingdefined in the cover and the slide switch button being exposed tooutside from the slot.